Goodwillie goal earns Ross County draw at Hearts
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ROSS County earned a 1-1 draw against Hearts at Tynecastle in the Ladbrokes Premiership today (Saturday) with both goals coming in the closing stages.
It was two subs on the scoresheet as Juanma put Hearts in front before on-loan Aberdeen forward David Goodwillie earned the Staggies a point which is not enough to keep them in the hunt for fourth spot.
The Dingwall side arrived in the capital without having taken a single points against their third-placed hosts this season, although their performances at times in these games had merited something.
Neither team had shown any signs of consistency of late.
County's Scottish League Cup final win against Hibs at Hampden was only one of two victories in their last eight games, while Robbie Neilson's players had posted just one win in six.
The Staggies began the day five points adrift of fourth-placed Motherwell, so trying to catch them over just three final games was the huge task facing them.
The chances were not helped by last weekend's disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to St Johnstone.
Boss Jim McIntyre made three changes from that clash, with Chris Robertson and Richard Foster returning to the back and Martin Woods back in midfield. Dropping to the bench were Marcus Fraser, Ian McShane and Liam Boyce.
For Hearts, who last game was a 3-1 loss against Celtic, which all but sealed the Hoops' fifth title in succession, Neilson made five changes, with Jack Hamilton, Callum Paterson, Gavin Reilly, Abiola Dauda and Sam Nicholson all promoted to the starting 11.
The Staggies were boosted hours ahead of kick-off with the news that their number one keeper Scott Fox had signed a one-year extension, meaning he's under contract at the club until the summer of 2018.
Hearts were the first to threaten after seven minutes and a cross from former County ace Don Cowie after linking with Abiola Dauda was cut out before Reilly got the chance to pull the trigger. That move stemmed from a cool drive from defence by John Souttar when he was under pressure.
Moments later, Dauda flashed a volley over the crossbar after Reilly teed him up for the hosts.
A swift breakaway down the left from Michael Gardyne then involved Alex Schalk as County hit on the break.
The ball found its way out to Jonathan Franks and his cross was met by Gardyne but his header didn't trouble Hamilton in goal.
The keeper then superbly kept out Schalk on 22 minutes when the Dutch forward was picked out by Martin Woods.
On 31 minutes, Prince Buaben saw his shot blocked after Dauda broke free and cut the ball back for him after taking his time about it, much to the home fans' frustration.
The remainder of the first half had plenty of effort from both sides, but neither coould make the killer pass in the final third.
It continued to be a scrappy encounter for much of the second half as moves broke down all too easily.
Hearts sub Djoum, who replaced Reily at the start of the second half, almost broke the deadlock on the hour mark when he went for goal but his shot rolled beyond the left post,with Fox beaten.
County hit the back of the net in 76 minutes when Woods free-kick flew into the net, but it was ruled offside.
At the other end, Fox got down swiftly to save a net-bound shot from Buaben as the hosts lopoked to find their way through.
With just six minutes left and just after Paterson went close, Hearts grabbed what looked to be the winner when Juanma pounced in the box to steer the ball past Fox by meeting a Buaben cross.
However, the visitors ensured that they left with a share of the spoils when sub David Goodwillie, on loan from Aberdeen, met a Woods delivery to finish from close range past Hamilton.
This result, combined with St Johnstone's 2-1 win at Motherwell, means they cannot catch the fourth-placed Perth Saints with two games to go.
County return to action on Wednesday night when they take on Motherwell in their final home fixture of the season before finishing their campaign a week tomorrow in Aberdeen.
Hearts: Hamilton, Paterson, Ozturk, Buaben, Nicholson (Zanatta 72), Oshaniwa, Reilly (Juanma 46), Cowie (Djoum 46), Kitchen, Souttar, Dauda. Subs not used: Alexander (GK), Pallardo, McGhee, Smith.
Ross County: Fox, Robertson, Gardyne (Goodwillie 83), Foster, Davies, Franks (De Vita 73), Murdoch, Schalk (Boyce 69), Woods, Irvine, Quinn. Subs not used: Foden (GK), Fraser, McShane, Graham.
Referee: Nick Walsh.
Attendance: 15,438.
